RePost! How to Subscribe to this blog!

Happy New Year!! This is a repost due to me being on vacation and hopefully celebrating the New Year like a manic!


I had a question asked by Kelli via my GUESTBOOK, and it is a wonderful question. How do I subscribe?

That is easy! On the left side of my page you have two options!

One is to become a "FOLLOWER", this option allows you to use your Google account or another account to keep track of your favorite blogs, I actually use this feature myself for several blogs. This option allows you to sign in under your google account and allows you to leave comments on the blogs you are a fan of, this is easier for me.

The second option is a new addition to my blog. You can now subscribe via a feeder. This allows you to add a feed to your most used homepage like MY AOL. Just click on the orange icon on the top of the left side of page that says "SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG". It will pop up a page that has some of my most recent posts on it and on the top right side it gives you multiple options to add a feed of my blog to. Choose which one you use and it will say subscribe with MY AOL for example, then click on it. It will pop up your page and may ask for your log in info. Then it's done! Simple, and easy.

Kelli, I hope that answered your question! If you have a question feel free to leave it as a comment in the post it is referencing, or you can leave it in my guest book which is located at the bottom of my blog or you can e-mail me at rubyself@aol.com. Thanks for reading!

Swap

Repost! I am still on Vacation!
I know that if your like me you love to curl up with a good book on rainy days. There is nothing better that I like to do than cuddle up in a blanket on the couch and read with the house quiet. It's a rare moment when my house is quiet. The thing for me lately is that the selection of books in my local area are not quite up to snuff, they suck actually. If I wanted to read every version of a cup of soup for the Soul I would be set, or if I wanted to simply read crafting magizines. But I don't, I crave something thick with plot and characters that fly off the page. So I am bound to reading old favorites or hitting the library in the hopes that they have something decent.

Its somewhat frustrating really. I am a collector of books, I love the way they smell, the feel of their wieght in my hands, and the sounds of pages turning. I am addicted to simply put it. In order to broaden my selections a select group of my friends and I swap books. Yep, we collect five or six books, put book covers on them with the title and our name and we swap. They all get retuned to the owner once a month when we swap again. It saves me money, trust me I could easily blow a wad of cash on books, and I get to see my friends and have an excuse to get out of the house that does not involve me spending money.

My husband is relieved that I do this. I once walked into a Barnes and Noble and dropped nearly $300 on books in less than fifteen minutes. I thought he was going to have a stroke. Swapping is kid friendsly and also allows my kids to see their friends. It's kind of like a play date. It's a win-win really.

So as the hoildays approach and we must tighten our belts even more I highly recommend this. If you and your friends are addicts of other media, like Video Games or DVDs try swapping them. I know I was surprised with what selections my friends and family had that I didn't.

REPOST! Confrences and Workshops

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! This is a repost well beacuse I am busy celebrating and hopefully over-induling in my mother's homemade burbon balls! Since the new year means that the season for workshops and confrences will soon be here I thought this would be a lovely re-post to do. Also I will not be posting any new postings until the 6th of January! I am going on VACATION, so enjoy the hoilday season and of course all of those wonderful family activites.

I know that writing can be a lonely occupation, but it doesn't have to be. One of the greatest tools (and distraction) for an author is the Internet. We can contact other author's and aspiring writers through on-line writer's groups, and check out other people's blogs. One of my favorite blogs to read is Nathan Bransford's, not only is it informational but you get to see the publishing world through an agent's eyes.

Outside of the world wide web there are slews of workshops, book clubs, classes, seminars, and conventions. I know in mid-state TN in the next four months there are at least 4 different events happening this summer and fall. 1 seminar, 2 conventions, and a few workshops. Now keep in mind these types of events require a bit of fundage and of course registration. If you live in the middle TN area one of the best organizations that offers these types of events with a reasonable cost is the Council for the Written Word, they are based in Franklin TN. They are hosting a seminar/workshop in the fall. Their website is:
http://www.cww-writers.org/

What to do if you are interested in a workshop. Workshops are fun, and are supposed to be relaxing, there is no need to work yourself into a tizzy. Breathe!

First thing to do is to find out their registration deadline is, then mail in your information or submit it on-line if that option is available. Next is check what type of materials you will need. I attended a workshop in march and the guest speaker was Susan Gregg Gilmore and it was recommended we read her book before hand and to bring it with us. Which I did, (it was a good read!) and surprisingly she even signed the book for me. It was also recommended that we bring our own writing tools(pen, paper, ect.) A must for attending any conference, workshop, or any event is to make sure you know the TIME and PLACE of the events. Most workshops have a pre-event get together usually at a book store the night before. Check your information, and if it seems unclear ask them about it. I assure you that they will not bite.

If you are feeling a bit shy about going to a workshop all willy-nilley and meeting new people take a friend with you. I asked a friend to go with me in March and she benefited from it also since she is in college and is taking creative writing courses. I have learned that jeans and a comfy shirt is okay apparel to wear. Wear what ever you are comfy in, (not pj's though, make sure you do look professional)especially if your going to be sitting for long periods of time. But as always check the event listing, a ballroom party might not be a good function to wear jeans to unless it's themed.

So in short, relax and enjoy the function. Don't worry the other author's at the event, they are people just like you, and are possibly more nervous than you are. Enjoy the fall and summer workshop season.

Christmas Overload

This time of year we all are overflowed with family and of course activities forced upon us by them. Really, do I need to go to a tree lighting ceramony? in your head you say "NO!" for several different reasons, but your bundled up anyway and end up freezing your butt off in a square waiting for the "officals" to work out some sort of "electrical" issue in 10 degree weather. Yeah, that sounds like heaps of fun.

We can all suffer through incidents like these or we can use these experiances to our advantage. Keep a holiday journal, and in this journal write down your hoilday experiances. Your feelings, your reactions, and other people's reactions, and your insight to whatever the situation is/was at the moment.Once Christmas and New Years is over stash it away for a moment of crisis when you are stuffing from writers madness.

This is a brillant idea for a writer to keep all of those experiances fresh in the mind and also preserve all those wonderful Family memories.

A hard lesson learned

I have been thinking about all the good things that came with 2009. Somethings that came out in the open were more like a "WTF?"moment. I had several of them this year where you just stare at the PC screen with your mouth agape wondering why now of all the moments in the world did this have to happen now. But for me mostly the year is not just about those crazy moments where the media caused me to scratch my head and wonder about the sanity of myself and those around me, but I have learned a lot this year.

In writing this year I have had my eyes opened. In some ways it does mean in some aspects of the industry I have become jaded and just as cold as Mr.Scrooge. It was not even that I was asking for a heap of stuff from this person, but I was simply accepting was what was being extended to me. Then to have that pretty much shoved back into my face for several reasons did hurt, given it was over a period of several months, so it was a group or a gaggle of small hurts that turned into one nasty monster of pain and a pinch of anger and a scoop of disappointment.

I have learned from that experience to NEVER really trust anyone. That is their opinion, what they are seeing from their eyes; If they are not of importance in your life, in your views and in your plan for becoming accomplished don't take anything they say to be of any amount of worth. Simply nod, smile and say thank you for their praise. Make a note of it for when your having a blue moment, but in reality those kind words lead well into nothing. Space really, a void of nothingness.

I know that sounds awful especially for this time of year, but that is the truth. There is nothing anyone, whether they are published or not, can do for you other than try to change all those wonderful words you have composed or try to change who you are as a writer. I know that as writers we are full of self doubt and all it takes it one person saying one little thing for us to go back and rip out chapters upon chapters and try to change not only how we write by why we write.

If you feel like there is something that needs to be altered in any way make sure that it is a change that you WANT, not because someone "suggested" you change this or that. All I am saying to you my lovely reader is that if you are happy with what is on the page then it is perfection. If you have read it and re-read it and your are satisfied with your product keep it. Don't change a thing. Be confident in yourself, in your skill and in your product. That is what really matters. If you love it someone else will too and they will not ask you to re-write a single word or try change who you are as a writer.

Finding your voice

This is REPOST! I know that I am being naughty, but with family coming in early for Christmas I am simply overwhelmed! I hope this gives you some food for thought while you are celebrating! Have a great weekend!

I read a lot. Well, some of my closest friends and family will state that is an understatement of how much I read. What I read does not really have any set pattern to it, I'm not at the book aisle every Tuesday when the new releases are shelved screening possible additions to my book case. What makes me pick up a book and actually purchase it is not just the story alone, or the wonderfully witty characters, it's the writer's voice. Yep, their voice.

Now, I'm betting you are wondering what an author's voice is and if your are a writer what yours sounds like. An author's voice is how they phrase their sentences, convey their words onto paper, the type of language used (an example, do they write in American tones or British tones?)The author's voice can tell you a lot about the author from what period (Renascence, Victorian, etc.), what class they were cast in society (this can even expose a person's education level), and in some cases even reveal what area they were raised in from their vocabulary selection and slang use in their writing. A writer's voice is as individual and unique as a finger print. For an example compare Edgar Allen Poe's works to Mark Twain's writings. Yes They are both American and born in the same time frame but their voices are different.

For us writers to understand and hear our own voices read aloud your work. Read it to yourself, your friends, your family, if you need to read aloud to your houseplants. Just don't read it thinking, "oh, this again, I've read this 100 times since I wrote it.", that maybe true but read it and you will hear yourself. The easiest way to hear your voice is to get a friend to write a short story and then you write the same short story, the same everything; character names, storyline, beginning and ending. Then swap stories and read them. Your voice will stick out like a sore thumb to your ears.

Once you can recognize your voice you can control it and how it effects your writings. It's your voice and it can be anything that you envision it to be. If you try the short story exercise let me know if it helped you, I love feedback.

The Perfect Gift!

I know that Christmas is almost here. Trust me on this, or rather trust the sexy cowbow calender that is hanging by my desk with Decemember 25th marked in red. Christmas is always a difficult time of year. What do I get my neice?? do you think that's his size? It's an endless debate with yourself in some over crowded shop. Toture is a perfect word for it all.

For those last minute gifts forgo the packed department stores and forget about trying to calculate how many more shipping days are left before Christmas and how much that shipping will cost you. Head into a book store. There you can find something for everyone. If they are into heavy music a musicial group bio would hit the spot. Are they a history buff? Try a book about odd facts about the Presidents. Are they into to design? There are books for that too! A book is something that lasts beyond an expiration date, and does not require batteries. Books are the gift that keeps giving! They not only get the book, but the knowledge it contains! It's a perfect way to show that special someone how much you love them.

E-Book Mania!!!

Last week was a pretty explosive week in publishing, well e-books to be exact. Simon & Schuster has become the first major publishing house to put into place a firm release date for its e-books—four months after publication of the hardcover, this is for books released from January-April.

The 35 titles scheduled to have a delayed e-book release are books that have either high print runs or high price points. An S&S spokesperson said the company believes that “this publishing sequence will benefit the performance of all the different formats in which these titles are published and, in the long term, will contribute to a healthier retail environment for the greater book buying public.”


Usually in today's market the hard backed format and the e-book format are released on the same day. It seems that times are changing. I feel that this publisher is trying to delay the growth of e-books. I seriously doubt if people will be willing to wait four months for an e-book version of a book when they can go out and by a hardback and not have to wait. I HATE waiting, and I'm sure a mass majority of people are the same. Then again people may not wait, and completely opt to purchase a different book based upon this delayed releasing of titles for e-book.

I'm not quite sure what the delay is for other than perhaps as a way to "poke" at Amazon.com for slashing prices, and in response to this delay they have slashed prices even more. The oddest part is that the publishers are still getting their cut in full, and amazon is the one taking the hit in the income. Perhaps this is Amazon.com's way of saying, "Sorry about those crazy publishers people! I swear it's not my fault your format is not released!"


Simon & Schuster was the first of officially state that they are delaying the releases of their titles, but once they did a flood gate opened. A Hachette Book Group and Harper Collins are doing pretty much the same thing. Hachette stated that they will be delaying a "wide selection of titles" in January and February. Harper Collins has plan.
In the first few months of 2010, HC will delay the release of five–10 books per month. But HC also plans to develop enhanced e-books for some of those titles and will publish the special e-books, which will have price points close to that of the hardcover, simultaneously with the print edition. The regular e-book will then be released at a later date. In addition, next year HC plans to test low price and free e-books to gauge consumer appetite for a variety of digital price points and formats.

So the questions that remains for me is this really going to work? True the publishers want people to buy the most expensive format, but now days it's all about meeting the consumer's needs and of course convince. I love a good hardback; the feel of it in your hands as you read, the feel of the paper as I turn the pages, and the fact that it can withstand several readings makes hardbacks a wonderful thing. As a consumer I realize that there are certain books that I will not pay the hardcover price for, like romance as an example. I sometimes feel the need for a good sexy highlander story, but I will NOT pay anywhere near $20 for one. That is madness, so I wait for a good paperback version to catch my eye. It's easier on my wallet and my purse, oh, and don't forget my already packed bookcases. There has been some wonderful books out there that was strictly published in hardback that I passed on because of the price point. I like a good bargin and I cannot afford to be fleeced, I mean really who can in this economy?

This decision that the publishers have made will either open up the e-book sales or send it to hell in a hand basket. This is a publisher's version of Mr. Toad's wild Ride. Simply replace motorcar mania with e-book mania. So let us put on our driving goggles and a good scarf and see where Mr. Toad will end up. Who knows, he may save Toad Hall after all.

Is Harry Potter Christ?

I know that I am re-posting this, but it is the "Christ-Season" so to speak, and I am currently out of town. So here's an oldie but goodie post that really had me thinking for a while. I shall resume my normal posting on Monday the 14th. Again, for those that skimmed the top part (You know who you are) this is a repost. Have a great weekend!!!!


The books are completed, all seven Harry Potter's are done. The movies are close to being completed as well. Now rewind in your minds to back when Harry Potter was first being noticed by kids of all ages and the churches and of course religious scholars. Do you remember the book burnings that were held for the Potter books? Do you remember all the slander of the books by Conservative Christan's saying that the books promoted witchcraft and Satan? I remember schools banning the books from their libraries and parents having fits over the Scar Boy.

Now those same people who condemned the books a "EVIL" and a strike against all that is good in the world are saying that the Harry Potter series are not all that bad. That the books follow the gospels. They see that Dumbledore (even though he is gay in the series) and Harry are versions of Christ because they face a death experience and then they are reborn in a fashion. That makes Malfoy and Snape the Judases. The the wands in the book represent God, the Father, the Sorcerer's Stone represents the the Son because it stands for resurrection and Harry's invisibility cloak stands for the Holy Ghost. I know, I said "WTF?" too when I heard about this.

Quite a few Conservative Christan's and religious scholars have changed their tune since the book series was completed. To me I never saw these books as bad or evil in any fashion. They got kids into reading when otherwise they might have picked up a video game instead.

Of course kids are going to be interested in anything that is considered taboo. I remember when I was in the sixth grade listening to my grandfather telling stories about a neighbor of theirs several years past that had some odd habits that tagged her as a witch in the community (Ok, being able to change form into a goat kinda of does label one as a witch of some sort).I remember being fascinated with the tale, I begged my dad to take me to the house where she lived at down on the creek, I even went to the local library to look up as much information as I could on the witch trails and witches in general. I was hooked. I still am.

I don't see any harm in letting kids know that there is magic out there. Everyday is magical from the beauty of a Morning Glory blooming to a rainbow gracing the sky after a rain shower, to getting all green lights on the way home. The magic may not come from a wand with a strand of unicorn hair as it's core, but it is wondrous all the same.

These Christan Conservatives and religious scholars are just now realizing that the Harry Potter series are not that naughty and that they are indeed a blessing in a way because they got children interested in books and perhaps that these books got kids into reading when otherwise they would not have ever picked up a book willingly. For me these books not not only boosted literacy they boosted the publishing industry. Hey, they had to PURCHASE those books they burned. Of course the Harry Potter series is not so bad.

*this post is based on the NPR (National Public Radio) transcript, the orginal peice aired August 22, 2009. If you would like to read the transcript please go to this website:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112141959&ft=1&f=1032

Do You Thank You??

I know that the gift giving/receiving season is here and as we all are scrambling around for that perfect gift we all want our gift and thoughtfulness to be appreciated. "A few nice words about those rockin' pair of socks with pumpkins on them that I got just for you on clearance would be lovely, 'cause I paid almost a full dollar for them!" Is what were all thinking when we give a gift. We want praise, just a simple "Hey, thanks for thinking of me while you dug through that Halloween leftover rack." would suffice.

These days I have noticed that thank you notes are pretty much a thing from times past, a generational thing I guess. Even Christmas cards and pretty much any kind of a real paper card that I can hold in my hand is out of fashion. Well, it maybe out of fashion, it may not be "hip", but those old fashioned cards made out of paper are still a wonderful gesture. I send out Christmas cards every year and I spend hours filling them out with tender care and consideration and I also send out thank you notes for every birthday gift my sons receive. It's us showing that the gift was appreciated and that I care enough to actually send out a card by snail mail.

What makes me ill about the whole thing is that not only are the cards falling out of fashion, but the gestures behind the cards are as well. I want you to think about how you feel when you get a card in the mail, any type of card(birthday, invitation, etc.). Concentrate hard; close your eyes and remember what it felt like to tear open the envelope and pull out a funny card someone took the time to pick out just for you. That's an awesome feeling huh?


Now that you have remembered how it feels to open the mail, lets move on to reading it. Think about how nice it is to read that your gift was appreciated and that whoever the gift was for was thrilled. That's a good feeling. That is your applause via an old fashioned snail mail paper card. That was awesome huh?


I am hoping that you enjoyed that walk down memory lane enough to go out and by some stationary and write with a pen a friend a note, or even send out a Christmas card by snail mail! These things are traditional! To tell you the truth whenever I give a gift as an example we will use a baby shower gift, I expect within the month to receive a thank you card in the mail. If I don't receive one you can bet that I will not be forking up any more of my time or effort for a gift for that person again. It's my weird way of teaching people how to respect the traditions of old. Oh, and in my book a "Thank you" text does not count. That's awful, simply tragic. And some people have the nerve to wonder why the new generations do not respect traditions, it is because they don't know them! Spread the word about cards! Tell your friends and family, you can even feel free to rant to them on a beautiful stationary set.


The most wonderful part about thank you notes and cards is that they must be concisely written. You do not have the space to waffle on, your sentences must bring your point across swiftly and coherently. Think of it as a writing exercise. How does one show gratitude for a pair of socks in 3 sentences or less? Sounds like an excellent writing challenge to me. It will also help you work on penmanship, spelling, sentence structure and a whole slew of other things us writers deal with on a daily basis. Think of it as a mini-workshop if you will.


So go out there and buy some paper, envelopes, cards, pens, and go to town thanking those that gifted you this Christmas! If your feeling crafty make your own cards! Heck, even my 5 year old appreciates a homemade card before he tries to use it as ramp for his hot wheels (hes learning to re-use, reduce, and recycle). You can do it, I just know you can.

How to survive the holiday season

The Holiday season is upon us. I know for us it's in full swing, this past weekend we have cleaned house and put up Christmas decorations and the Christmas tree. It was exhausting but fun, and now we are all geared up for Christmas. I cannot wait till our family arrives from out of state; I have a new niece I have yet to hold and let me tell you I have a bit of baby fever.

For us writers Christmas is a bit of a crazy time. Normal people have errands to run, presents to buy, you know the normal Holiday rush. For writers it's a bit harder. We spend a good portion of our days conversing with characters in our heads and plotting, that has a tendency to make us seem a bit anti-social. I admit some days I would rather argue with my main character about the plot than deal with real people. Please, like I need to hear how awful things are for a walmart cashier when all I want is to take my new pack of ink pens and Jungle Juice home and start on a new chapter.

For us writers that are a bit on the secretive side Christmas is a struggle. It's much harder to deal with real people than the people we created. To help you the writer get through the Holiday season successful I have made a list of tips.


1.When confronted by a person that is "touchy-feely" and you are not feeling the "love" cough heartily and wheeze a bit before they go in for the "Killing hug". Usually the signs of sickness will ward off even the touchiest of relations.

2.When booze is offered accept. Booze will help make your most annoying relations seem half-way decent.

3. When asked what your are currently working on tell them that it is a top secert project, but that you can give them a hint. It involves Secret Squirrel.

4.When asked if you want to join someone for a meal inquire if booze will present. If so please accept the invite, if not decline, decline, decline!

5. When asked what you want for Christmas reply that you would like an elf that does paperwork. They could be handy for all of those queries.

6.If you are disturbed while brooding over a plot line by a relation and they ask you, "What are you thinking about?" simply reply that you are simply figuring up if reindeer farts is what gives Santa's sleigh the lift to fly. Magical oats my foot.

7.When given a totally lame gift simply over react. Act like the gift is the best gift ever given the history of the human race. It will make them feel good and you will be able to see an honest reaction. Think of it as Field research.

8. This time of year people will call. As of right now I have already talked to 5 people on the phone, and it is not even 11 AM yet. Simply put the phone on speaker and grunt occasionally as you continue to work.

9. Keep a tally of the Christmas items you receive in the mail, that way when people call and say did you receive blah, blah, you can look it up and say "Yes, it was lovely!" This way everyone is happy.

10.When in doubt wither it be a social interaction that has you grappling or simply someone Else's stupidity simply resolve the issue by singing loudly. I prefer the wonderful tune of "Jingle Bells", but pick which ever song that you like. This will bridge the social gap and make you seem like you are filled with the holiday spirit and not just booze.

A Christmas Revolution!

I hope that everyone has awakened from their turkey coma, I know that if your family is anything like ours your still eating turkey and possibly for the rest of this week. I think we are crazy to eat turkey like crazy for Thanksgiving then right when we are finally done eating it and somewhat recovered we celebrate another Holiday which turkey is a spotlight meat on the dinner table. That's just asking for trouble.

So I am thinking that this year for Christmas we all should branch out from turkey and ham. How about steaks for Christmas dinner? Or a nice spring salad with a lovely dressing, a salad would leave LOTS of room for Bourbon balls, rum cake, Christmas toasts...

I think it would work! So before you go out and buy a huge turkey lets save the turkeys and eat something else! A double cheese burger with bacon, a fat juicy steak, a wonderful fruit salad! Together we can kick the turkey habit!! I mean have you ever seen a real turkey, not one of those farm raised white things, but I real wild turkey? All I'm saying is that whoever was the first person to eat a turkey must of been extremely hungry, as in "I'm starving and it's either this turkey or my foot" kind of hunger.


It's just an idea, that's all I'm saying. Happy Tuesday!